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Thoughts on Startup School

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Re: Thoughts on Startup School

#61

Post by benihana »

cperciva wrote: post #19
scobar wrote: post #18

Startup School was well worth the value of traveling to the Bay Area for myself. I'd read PG's essays and a lot of other startup literature so I didn't learn anything profoundly new, but I was inspired. Interacting with other attendees was also an amazing experience that is not available to me where I live. While I disagree with you, your post is important, and I'm glad you wrote it. Those who are undecided about att…

While I disagree with you, I think your post is important, and I'm glad you wrote it. Thank you for saying that. I hesitated for a long time before writing this -- hence the posting almost a week after the event -- because it felt like I was being rude to criticize an event which, after all, we were all invited into for free. Those who are undecided about attending SuS in the future whose expectations match yours can…

I just want to say thank you for being a considerate human being on the internet and for posting this. I think critical discussion is extremely important to all of our continued growth, but I also think far too often we forget that we're criticizing actual humans and not just avatars on the internet. I enjoyed your thoughtful approach and I just find it refreshing that you mentioned the things you considered. That's all; thanks!

Re: Thoughts on Startup School

#62

Post by gus_massa »

andrewchambers wrote: post #46

The power points and standing are more likely health and safety regulation.

I agree.

[Begin Anecdotal interleave

We recently moved to a new office in the university. The office plan was designed by the old school professors. It has three big tables in the middle of the room and a few computers and a printer in a side room. It's very comfortable for meeting and discussing or working in groups, but the outlets are in the walls.

The problem if that I and a few new school professors have notebooks. I'd like to have my LaTeX editor configured in the correct way. A few compilers just in case. Leave my gmail account open. ... So when the battery is low the only solution is to sit in the extreme of the table that is nearby the wall in pass the electric cord though the four foots aisle. Perhaps put a chair so no one runs into the cord. Emit a public warning. Watch for incoming problems.. ...

It's very difficult to add the electric plugs under the table, so I'd like to add some retractile plugs in the lamps, so the electric cord can go to the roof to get the electricity.

End Anecdotal interleave]

In a room with a few hundreds people, a cord across the aisle is dangerous. It's not possible to allow it to make the event hacker friendly. The only solution is to find a venue that has a plug in each seat, so everyone can connect the notebook without disturbing the transit and emergency exits.

Re: Thoughts on Startup School

#63

Post by weaponofchoice »

tlb wrote: post #31

Colin: I'm sorry we didn't deliver what you needed. YC's goal in selecting Startup School participants is to get a mix of deeply technical people and popularizers. The combination of those two skill sets makes a great startup. When I saw you at Startup School I was like, "Hey, it's cperciva! Maybe he'll find a co-founder who can sell and together they can make Tarsnap take over the backup business!" That would be a g…

Popularity hacker in 3...2...

I bet the next 10 years will see a lot of celebrity-driven startups. Will.i.am, Tom Hanks, Justin Timberlake etc. Looking for your 3rd co-founder? Talk to your local celebrity agent.

Something about the term 'popularizer' annoys me. Why not just call them 'marketers'.

IMHO, the perfect startup team: 1 technical co-founder, 1 technical co-founder who loves analytics and online marketing, 1 celebrity. Followed by celebrity investors.

Re: Thoughts on Startup School

#64

Post by weaponofchoice »

dfabulich wrote: post #11

I attended Startup School 2011; I regret wasting the day there. I thought that "Startup School" would be more like the "How to Start a Startup" lecture series that YC is running at Stanford. Instead, it was just a bunch of celebrities talking about their startup experiences; a concentrated shot of survival bias. There's nothing practical to learn from the Startup School talks. As for inspiration, I guess some people…

Couldn't agree more.

Although, YC wouldn't attempt giving 'real' advise at this point. (advise that would end up being labeled elitist, misogynistic etc.) They're under the spotlight, and have to be politically correct.

As startup advisors and accelerators go, they are google/microsoft. Held back by their own weight.

Re: Thoughts on Startup School

#65

Post by gcv »

cperciva wrote: post #38
tlb wrote: post #31

Colin: I'm sorry we didn't deliver what you needed. YC's goal in selecting Startup School participants is to get a mix of deeply technical people and popularizers. The combination of those two skill sets makes a great startup. When I saw you at Startup School I was like, "Hey, it's cperciva! Maybe he'll find a co-founder who can sell and together they can make Tarsnap take over the backup business!" That would be a g…

Trevor: Thank you for replying. I hope you (and Jessica, and everybody else involved with Startup School) don't take what I've written personally -- I nearly didn't post it for exactly that reason, but decided in the end that you're all grown-ups who won't be offended by honest criticism. ;-) And thank you for your comments when we met -- talking to you was the highlight of the weekend for me (I didn't mention it in…

> talking to you was the highlight of the weekend for me

Sounds like attending was worth it for you, after all, and for the same main reason you noted in your post: networking.

Re: Thoughts on Startup School

#66

Post by novaleaf »

IMO Colin is spot on. I attended startup school 2 years ago, and had the exact same experience (well, sans tarsnap conversations)

It seems worth going to once, if you don't already know/follow "startup ethos" but otherwise, It doesn't seem very useful from a practical standpoint.

Re: Thoughts on Startup School

#67

Post by clairity »

yup, the talks for the most part were of the inspirational sort by those who had won the startup lottery and had tidbits (but not 8 hours' worth) of useful advice to share. as others have noted, they was less about the content (since that could be had online) and more about absorbing the energy of the group, getting a sense of the character and approach of the speakers, and feeling kinship with everyone there.

i'd also traveled for startup school and would say it was just worth it for me. if i'd been local, it certainly would have been worth it, just for meeting people like the guy who created tarsnap with whom i shared a power outlet until the ushers scolded us. =)

(to be fair to the ushers, the cords were in the aisles, which could be a hazard)

one of the lytro engineers taught me a bit more about light field photography, and an arduino hacker and i chatted about locomotive robotics. on the other end of the spectrum, there were discussions about ad tech business models. so to me, it seemed to be a good mix of people with all kinds of technical skills.

Re: Thoughts on Startup School

#68

Post by cperciva »

tosh wrote: post #49
cperciva wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Trevor: Thank you for replying. I hope you (and Jessica, and everybody else involved with Startup School) don't take what I've written personally -- I nearly didn't post it for exactly that reason, but decided in the end that you're all grown-ups who won't be offended by honest criticism. ;-) And thank you for your comments when we met -- talking to you was the highlight of the weekend for me (I didn't mention it in…

Why not (re 8 years)?

Leaving aside the semantics, I'd always begrudge any control I gave away after being 100% in charge for so long.

Re: Thoughts on Startup School

#69

Post by yellow_and_gray »

alecco wrote: post #59
tlb wrote: post #31

Colin: I'm sorry we didn't deliver what you needed. YC's goal in selecting Startup School participants is to get a mix of deeply technical people and popularizers. The combination of those two skill sets makes a great startup. When I saw you at Startup School I was like, "Hey, it's cperciva! Maybe he'll find a co-founder who can sell and together they can make Tarsnap take over the backup business!" That would be a g…

Why does he need to get a co-founder? Can't he just hire PR, business, and marketing? Why tinker the structure of a an organization already surviving?

Startups that get big have more than one founder. If your goal isn't just to survive but to grow big, statistically at least you are better off with a co-founder.

I say this as a single founder of a startup that didn't grow.

Re: Thoughts on Startup School

#70

Post by selmnoo »

cperciva wrote: post #68
tosh wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not (re 8 years)?

Leaving aside the semantics, I'd always begrudge any control I gave away after being 100% in charge for so long.

I don't understand either why many are suggesting you get a cofounder. You just need another person who can work on UI, branding, PR, etc. Don't give them any equity, don't give them any control over the innards of tarsnap, just pay them a handsome wage (for the handsome job that they'll do).

p.s.: in my ideal world, you are every founder (doesn't partake in shitty, ethically-questionable growth-hacking techniques), and your company is every company (offers a decidedly great service, no gimmicks). I think it's extremely unfortunate that you have to do these extra things to be successful on the next level... I wish things weren't this way. But unfortunately you do have to play this strange ballgame to get there.

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